Thursday, March 24, 2011

Should I? I shouldn't. Should I? I shouldn't...wait...Should I? I really shouldn't. Or Should I?

That title pretty sums it up.

For the past 36 hours, I've been struggling to make a decision. See, I have a job interview tomorrow. A job interview that I don't particularly want to go to because the location isn't great and the job revolves around recycled water and poop (true story). For the record, neither of which light the creative fire within me.

So basically, I don't want to go and I am lazy. However, who am I to turn down a job interview? What if this is the only job I get offered? What if this is it?

I also don't want to go. I don't really know anything about the aforementioned poop and recycled water job. I have no qualifications that would make me knowledgeable about this subject, and frankly I think this is going to turn into another job where I end up embarrassed because surprise surprise I know nothing about what they are talking about.

It's a job interview. It must be embraced.

I don't want to.

EMBRACE IT.

I don't want to go.

Do you see how this is going? For 36 hours. I woke up thinking about it. I thought about it on the way to the train station. I thought about it while I brushed my teeth. I thought about while I bought orange juice for tonight's dinner (soy orange tofu, Moses it's good!). I cried on the phone last night while Inspector Climate and I went around and around on whether I should cancel the interview or not. And then again while we emailed each other back and forth this morning.

I am going to go. I have to go.

But that doesn't make it any easier to stomach that I am going to take 4 hours of my day to travel to this suburb, get asked a bunch of questions, I don't know the answer to, and finally leave feeling down on myself and, as if it's even possible, more frustrated with the job search than I am now.

I know that angst. I felt it just moments ago hesitating to email someone for professional stuff. But I say, why not. It might be better than you think. Just be up front and say, I'm not an expert in this field, but I'd like to learn more about the position. Sometimes when you aren't really interested, you're much calmer because you're not invested. Chalk it up to experience and practice for THE interview that might be around the corner.

I have a job interview tomorrow too, and it's not easy to get to... but it does pay better. I think you should go anyway - just becase you go doesn't mean you have to take it, and maybe it'll be great - and at the very least, it's interview experience, which is always good for the future :)

That's a tough one, I've been there. The hardest thing is flogging yourself into some kind of enthusiasm that will come across as genuine in the interview. If you can do that, it's worth going. If not, just a waste of time. Good luck.

oh this is such a painful merry-go-round for me too. i think the worst part is when you go to an interview for a job you really don't want and then they end up not wanting you. in a lot of ways i want to be the one to turn down a job that's not for me, not be rejected by something i didn't want in the first place. but other people i know went to interviews they didn't want, got the job, and ended up loving it. life is totally unpredictable i guess, so you might as well walk through all the doors that open for you. you can always turn right around and walk back out if it's not what you're wanting. good luck with the decision, and remember we all like you no matter what you end up doing! :)

Why do they want you if you know nothing about poop and recycled water? I don't understand. You must be pretty good at selling yourself :)

And I'd say go anyways. Just for practice at interviews. Since you already know you don't want the job then the pressure is off and you can just see how you perform. Think of it as a warm for the real thing -- the interview for The Dream Job that will eventually come your way.

Hey also thank you for the comment :) I agree with what you said about getting a real world in order to fund your dreams a little later. that's what I am doing now!Can't wait to hear if you went to the interview or not, and how it went if you did :) xoxo

Ah, Job interviews. I think they all suck. But you will be fine. I mean, just GO and if you hate it, you don't have to take the job, but I think it is good to get out there and try, no matter what. Hey, I know, it is easier for me to say than do (and WAY easier for me to tell YOU to do rather than do myself) but I think that you should always take ALL options and then YOU get the choice to turn them down or not. Don't sell yourself short. A foot in the door is sometimes worth a lot!

Hey Deidre-Here's the black bean burger recipe I use, but I sub out the pumpkin with black bean and don't use wheat germ. Each time I make it, it's a bit different, but I usually add bell pepper and occasionally other veg I have around chopped very tiny.

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/southwestern_pumpkin_burgers.html

An egg and/or bread crumbs stirred in after cooking the beans, onion, veggies and spices will really help GLUE it all together. I also find that using shredded cheese in the burger helps as well.

I say go and have a little fun with it. It might turn out to be a better job than you think. And if it doesn't, just act like a crazy lady and completely blow the interview. That way you can honestly say you went, but didn't get the job!

Honestly, more than the job itself, the distance is reason enough to not go. I had a three hour a day commute in LA traffic. After several mini breakdowns on the side of the road I finally quit. Even as my last dime from being unemployed (and not getting unemployment insurance) were running out I turned around on the way to an interview because I had already been in my car an hour and wasn't there yet. I just couldn't fathom commuting like that again.

Ever.

And shit (so far) has worked out (in the oddest possible way) so that I have not starved.

Fate will take care of you. If it seems so far off that it is causing you this much stress it is not the right job.

Just my two cents from the very odd perspective that is mine. I take no responsibility for its implementation. BUT I believe every word.